Ahmed Shehzad replaces Khurram Manzoor in Pakistan's World T20 squad

Pakistan have replaced Khurram Manzoor with Ahmed Shehzad in their squad for the World T20 2016. Based on his domestic performances, Manzoor was handed an opportunity in the Asia Cup T20 as an opener but his poor return of 11 runs in three games, has led the selectors to make a change at the top of the order. Shehzad is the third late change to the World T20 squad made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), after Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Sami had earlier replaced Babar Azam and Rumman Raees.

"While picking the squad, the team management and skipper were consulted by the selectors, and all concerned gave their consent in this regard.

"The T20 team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions during the World T-20 in India. The team is a fine blend of experience and youth and the selectors believe that team will do well in the mega event," Haroon Rashid, the chief selector, said on Monday (March 7).

Shehzad, who was previously dropped from the side, clawed his way back with a consistent show in the inaugural season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held in Dubai and UAE. Opening the innings for Quetta Gladiators, Shehzad scored a half-century in the final against Islamabad United and finished with a tally of 290 runs at a strike rate of 143.56. Even as Gladiators finished second best in the tournament, Shehzad's efforts did not go unnoticed.

Pakistan suffered from poor batting performances at the top of the order in the Asia Cup, where defeats to India and Bangladesh ended their campaign. In both the losses, the Shahid Afridi-led side's batting frailties were exposed. Barring the likes of Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal and Sarfraz Ahmed, the top-order struggled to rise to the occasion.